I know there are people out there with them but it appears that most people who post on the forums seem to have either a caravan or a motorhome...large or small. Who has a camper trailer and how do you manage on one night stays (or longer where allowed) in the free camping areas? Some of the free camp places just seem to be like car parks which seems a little awkward for a camper trailer to set up. thanks.
Chris
-- Edited by bowlerbear on Tuesday 28th of May 2013 09:24:00 AM
Bent Axle Bob said
02:50 PM May 28, 2013
Hi Bowlerbear. Yes , I have my camper trailer and completed a trip around Oz with it. An old hard floor Side tipper. Worked a treat and had a number of comments on how compact and easy it was to set up. One trick I learned very early was to plan your day so you reached your free camp site early, ie, before 2pm, and choose your site. Most other campers would not arrive before this time. I found that 3 hours traveling usually got you to another reasonable camp area. Most campsites in WA, you can get away with a 2 night stay. As they say, the early bird gets the worm. Depart early, arrive early.
Dougwe said
03:47 PM May 28, 2013
Hi Chris, I have an Avan Camper Trailer, the 'Sportliner' which is the baby of the Avan Family and just love it. No canvas and has insulated walls etc and just takes 30 seconds to put up or down.
I did a major re-wire to the 12v system of the Avan and the Tug earlier this year and have a 120w Portable Solar Panel which I store under a false floor in the back of the Prado so I can 'Free' or 'Alternative' camp. As B A B just said I usually get to a camp around 2 or 3 pm, sometimes later, choose my spot and enjoy. I like to hit the road early so do a little longer travel but that changes as you go along.
The tug charges the Avan battery and runs the 3 way fridge on 12v while travelling and that gives me plenty of power for one night stands and I have done a few of those with no problems. I leave the Avan hooked up to the car, level up if needed and just disconnect the Anderson plug so as not to flatten the tug battery over night.
I have a 2 burner gas stove and 60 lts fresh filtered drinking water on board, with the fridge running on gas over night or longer if staying longer. I also have a camp toilet with seat and lid so all is fine in that department as well.
As I said, I am set up to stay one night or many and have the capability of 240v or 12v so can stay in CV Parks or anywhere basically.
I reckon with a little thought and help from the great members of this forum nothing is really impossible or very close to it anyway.
The most important thing is to have fun out in the playground and,
bowlerbear said
04:01 PM May 28, 2013
Doug how do you get on in the stops that just have marked parking bays like someone posted on here recently? I know you are up in Townsville for a couple of months so I may even manage to meet up with you there. I'm in Maryborough at the moment waiting to get my car back which hopefully will be tomorrow then will head off again. Any suggestions on stops up the coast? It's easy to look at the camps book etc but I'd much rather have someone suggest places they have been or know of. Thanks.
Dougwe said
05:34 PM May 28, 2013
Chris, check out my update in 'General' and I would probably get out of the way as much as possible then unhook and take up 2 bays. That might upset a couple on here and maybe at the site so if that did happen and the space was needed I would move on I think.
Gerty Dancer said
05:39 PM May 28, 2013
Got rid of the camper-trailer. Sick of wet canvas, and all the set-up/pack-up work.
Bent Axle Bob said
11:03 PM May 28, 2013
Yep, I know what you mean Gerty, Overcame this by getting a grey tarp from Bunnings (18 x 12') and used that as a storm cover. Worked a treat. No wet canvas, no late departures
GaryKelly said
01:43 AM May 29, 2013
Before getting my rig, I toyed with all kinds of ideas including a camper trailer. Eventually, the idea of towing and having to set-up at each stop discouraged me from a camper trailer, so I got a slide-on and a ute instead.
sarg said
07:55 PM May 29, 2013
I was going to get a campertrailer and did all the research as well but because of the difficulty of setting up and packing up I decided on a poptop van and got one for about the same cost of a basic campertrailer........and much easier just to pop the top. Sarg.
bowlerbear said
02:55 AM May 30, 2013
What I could have got or should have got is a bit irrelevant because I have a camper trailer and I have no plans on getting something else that may be easier to erect etc. I'm just interested in hearing from those who have a ct how they get on with overnight stays particularly in places that look like a car park with marked bays. Sarg, what is your figure for a "basic campertrailer"? Chris
Mike C said
03:51 AM May 30, 2013
Hi Chris
We travelled around for many years in an Ultimate camper (flip over lid) and never had any issues in free camps. Never had to peg anything down but did sometimes feel a little exposed under canvas. you can see a lot of our travels at www.mikenshez.blogspot.com.au
after 7 years we decided to upgrade to a motor home.. life is much simpler now.
tonyd said
03:16 AM May 31, 2013
Hi Chris,
I have a CT. Took the old, big tent off (too hard to handle alone) and replaced it with smaller, much more manageable one. Just been on a 1600km shakedown trip. Went well. Can't comment on free camping yet, as I set off for a site . . . and went 60km down the WRONG road and had to backtrack and stay in a caravan park. Not happy with myself, but laughed later! Teach me to read map more carefully.
Yes, you have to put up and pull down, but it gets quicker with practice. I find the most time consuming task is zipping on the weather cover and strapping it down.
At the end of the day, I like the CT (offroad model, trailer made in Oz, top is from China and perfectly good, despite what people will tell you about them) because it can go places where caravans and motorhomes cannot. I appreciate that caravans and MHs have their comfort factor, but when I'm camped on a deserted WA beach, glass in hand, gazing out to sea, I appreciate the CT, too.
Cheers, Tony
bowlerbear said
05:23 AM Jun 2, 2013
I spent last night in the Bundaberg Lions Park Rest Area. Free camping on the side of the road for the first time. It was a bit noisy to start off with...opposite the airport, next to the showground and it was the last night of the regional show and some kids had footy training but eventually it all settled down. They come around the lock up the toilets then reopen them in the morning. It felt a bit weird but I survived. There were a couple of caravans and motorhomes and also a few 4wd's and I just drove up on the grass and set up and got the minimum amount of gear I needed out of the car. I put it all back in the car when I went to bed. I will hopefully post a picture of just the basic set up but as I've never put a picture on here before I hope it comes out.
Thanks Mike. It wasn't really on its side. I'm camped at Workman's Beach campground at Agnes Water and I just pulled the fly over and put it on poles with ropes and left the actual awning over the tent. Mind you if it rains I'll be quickly pulling the awning out so I can put the walls on. Janette, things aren't necessarily hard but when you've not done something before sometimes they aren't necessarily straight forward either. Chris
Mike C said
04:12 AM Jun 7, 2013
hmm I did try to rotate it but obviously it didn't work.
I know there are people out there with them but it appears that most people who post on the forums seem to have either a caravan or a motorhome...large or small. Who has a camper trailer and how do you manage on one night stays (or longer where allowed) in the free camping areas? Some of the free camp places just seem to be like car parks which seems a little awkward for a camper trailer to set up. thanks.
Chris
-- Edited by bowlerbear on Tuesday 28th of May 2013 09:24:00 AM
I did a major re-wire to the 12v system of the Avan and the Tug earlier this year and have a 120w Portable Solar Panel which I store under a false floor in the back of the Prado so I can 'Free' or 'Alternative' camp. As B A B just said I usually get to a camp around 2 or 3 pm, sometimes later, choose my spot and enjoy. I like to hit the road early so do a little longer travel but that changes as you go along.
The tug charges the Avan battery and runs the 3 way fridge on 12v while travelling and that gives me plenty of power for one night stands and I have done a few of those with no problems. I leave the Avan hooked up to the car, level up if needed and just disconnect the Anderson plug so as not to flatten the tug battery over night.
I have a 2 burner gas stove and 60 lts fresh filtered drinking water on board, with the fridge running on gas over night or longer if staying longer. I also have a camp toilet with seat and lid so all is fine in that department as well.
As I said, I am set up to stay one night or many and have the capability of 240v or 12v so can stay in CV Parks or anywhere basically.
I reckon with a little thought and help from the great members of this forum nothing is really impossible or very close to it anyway.
The most important thing is to have fun out in the playground and,
Yep, I know what you mean Gerty, Overcame this by getting a grey tarp from Bunnings (18 x 12') and used that as a storm cover. Worked a treat. No wet canvas, no late departures
Chris
Hi Chris
We travelled around for many years in an Ultimate camper (flip over lid) and never had any issues in free camps.
Never had to peg anything down but did sometimes feel a little exposed under canvas. you can see a lot of our travels at www.mikenshez.blogspot.com.au
after 7 years we decided to upgrade to a motor home.. life is much simpler now.
Hi Chris,
I have a CT. Took the old, big tent off (too hard to handle alone) and replaced it with smaller, much more manageable one. Just been on a 1600km shakedown trip. Went well. Can't comment on free camping yet, as I set off for a site . . . and went 60km down the WRONG road and had to backtrack and stay in a caravan park. Not happy with myself, but laughed later! Teach me to read map more carefully.
Yes, you have to put up and pull down, but it gets quicker with practice. I find the most time consuming task is zipping on the weather cover and strapping it down.
At the end of the day, I like the CT (offroad model, trailer made in Oz, top is from China and perfectly good, despite what people will tell you about them) because it can go places where caravans and motorhomes cannot. I appreciate that caravans and MHs have their comfort factor, but when I'm camped on a deserted WA beach, glass in hand, gazing out to sea, I appreciate the CT, too.
Cheers, Tony
I spent last night in the Bundaberg Lions Park Rest Area. Free camping on the side of the road for the first time. It was a bit noisy to start off with...opposite the airport, next to the showground and it was the last night of the regional show and some kids had footy training but eventually it all settled down. They come around the lock up the toilets then reopen them in the morning. It felt a bit weird but I survived. There were a couple of caravans and motorhomes and also a few 4wd's and I just drove up on the grass and set up and got the minimum amount of gear I needed out of the car. I put it all back in the car when I went to bed. I will hopefully post a picture of just the basic set up but as I've never put a picture on here before I hope it comes out.
Chris
Chris, the photo hasn't worked. It isn't too hard.
It was just missing the extension .JPG
all looks very cozy and warm.
Janette, things aren't necessarily hard but when you've not done something before sometimes they aren't necessarily straight forward either.
Chris
cheers
Mike